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Foster starring for hometown Sun Devils

By WTOP Staff

JOHN MARSHALL
AP College Football Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — D.J. Foster had offers from some of the biggest programs in the country, more than 20 in all.

When it came time to make a decision, he chose Arizona State so he could stay close to home.

After his sister died of an accidental overdose a few years earlier, he just wasn’t ready to be on his own.

“My family’s been through a lot and I really wasn’t ready to leave them,” Foster said. “I wanted to be there for them, have them be able to come to my games whenever they want, just be able to have them share this experience with me.”

Foster’s decision couldn’t have worked out much better for him or the 16th-ranked Sun Devils.

Versatile and hard-running, he’s one of the nation’s most explosive running backs, a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

Charismatic, hard-working and humble, he’s become a fan favorite for Sun Devils fans, the hometown star who didn’t leave to play somewhere else.

“He’s a rock star,” Arizona State coach Todd Graham said recently.

A top recruit out of Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Foster was the centerpiece of Graham’s first recruiting class in 2012.

The Sun Devils had Cameron Marshall in place as their featured back and Marion Grice behind him, but Foster was so talented the coaches had to find ways to get him on the field.

So instead of just setting up behind the quarterback as he always had, Foster found himself lining up all over the field, mostly catching passes, not taking handoffs.

It wasn’t an easy adjustment, but Foster thrived in his multidimensional role through his athleticism and his work ethic in practice and the film room.

“It was definitely a struggle and it took me a while to get the offense down,” Foster said. “I still can’t say I’ve mastered it. I still have to work on it every day. Knowing both receiver positions and running back, knowing different protections is definitely a lot, but the coaches helped prepare me enough so I can rise to the occasion.”

He’s certainly done it since becoming Arizona State’s featured back.

Foster got a head start on being the go-to guy last season, taking over the starting job after Marion Grice went down with a leg injury.

He ran for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win over rival Arizona, then accounted for 142 total yards and two touchdowns in the Pac-12 Championship game against Stanford. Foster closed out the season by running for a career-high 132 yards and a score against Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl.

Foster finished with 1,170 combined yards and led the nation for yards receiving by a running back with 653.

The confidence he gained from that taste of the spotlight has carried over at the start of his junior season.

Foster opened the season by running for 147 yards and three touchdowns in a little over a half in a blowout of Weber State. He topped that last week by rushing for a career-high 216 yards, most by an Arizona State running back since Delvon Flowers rushed for 226 yards against Oregon State in 2001.

Foster enters Saturday’s game at Colorado third nationally with 363 yards rushing and tied for fifth with four touchdowns.

“We feel that D.J. is one of the most explosive players in the country and because he can do so many different things, it’s hard for a team to take him away,” Arizona State offensive coordinator Mike Norvell said. “We can create so many different matchups to get the ball in his hands, it really helps us and gives him opportunities to have an impact.”

Foster has made such a big mark, in part, because of his sister.

Foster was 15 when Jennifer accidentally overdosed two weeks before his first varsity game at Saguaro. The siblings were close, often staying up well past midnight to talk about life, sports, whatever.

Sports were a huge part of D.J.’s life when he was growing up and Jennifer often told him there was more to life than playing games — words that have stuck with him since her death.

“Family is such a big deal to me and that’s why it was so hard for me to leave,” Foster said. “That (her death) really made me take a step back and look at life, let me realize what’s important in life, little things that people take for granted. I get to come out here every day and go to work with my brothers and I love every second of it.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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